The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-03-18
WHERE'S HE GONE?
The Question Now Agitating
New Workers,
ABOUT WALTER e. LAYTON,
His Friends Axgressting q MiIlion
Dollars. So
Probably in Canada.


has seized the place of business of Wal
ter E. Lawton, 81 Broadway, who die
business under the firm name of Law
ton Bros, as fertilizers, under attach
ments from Judge Donohue of the ou
preme Court, on creditors claims
amounting to 1854 COO 1t is charged
that Lawton has absconded to defraud
his creditors; that he has disposed of
his property and taken large amount
of money with him. Lawton was di-
rector in the Delta Actin Company.
and was entrusted. with $100, 900 in
notes to discount for the company on
March Is. Lawton is said to have alb.
seconded with the proceeds OF the dis
counties notes.
The disappearance of Lawton has
created a great deal of apprehension.
and it is generally believed he is bank
rupt. He left his Office on Tuesday
afternoon as usual, to go to his home
on the Hudson, and has not been seen
sine. Three attachments were OBJ
tanned against him to day. The amount
of his liabilities is estimated at about
81 900 600. LaWton is a Widower, and
the sole representative of the firm; his
brother, who was associated with him,
having died some time ago. Rufus T.
Kirkland, Lawton's cashier, states that
on Tuesday Lawton withdrew all his
funds from the different banks in which
he deposited, and took the money with
him. Lawbon, before his departure.
destroyed all stubs, checks and papers
of every kind from which any informa-
ton could be secured as to the DISPOSE
ton of the funds and property. Joseph
d. Jones placed in Eawton's care on
Tuesday, on behalf of the company
$12 600. This is also gone. Kirkland
states that on Tuesday he had an inter
view with Lawton at Broadway and
Wall Street, and that Lawton requested
him to 60 with him to the officers of the
Third National Bank and introduce
him. This he did. Lawton also asked
him to obtain q blank warranty deed
for the conveyance of real estate IN
New Jersey, and to meet him at the
New York hotel. He met Lawton there
with. a. blank deed and both
went to the Grand Central depot.
Lawton told kirkland he intended to
leave the city by train; he had drawn
out all the money on deposit, that he
was ruined. that he did not know what
to do. and that he would probably COM
NIT suicide. Lawton further said he
had exhausted all his resources and was
not able to pay out any money in his
possession. He left Kirkland to take
train. The second attachment Was is
sued at the instance of the Chemical
e. Oil Company. upon a
similar claim. The company delivered
to Lawton promissory notes to the value
of s120, 600 in trust to discount notes and
held the proceeds for the mpany'si
benefit. In addition, he received S., 900
in money. He discounted the notes:
kept the proceeds, and also retained
use. The third claim is one of SIS 900, for
services BY Robert A. Van
Wyck, rendered to Lswton. ''
A number of banks were reported to
be heavy losers through the negotiation
of Lawton's paper, among them the
First and Third National Banks. the
Bank of the, Republic and the Chemi-
cal Bank. The president of the First
National Bank denied that the bank
handled any of Lawton's paper. The
American Exchange National Bank
which was reported heavy loser
would not affirm or deny the report.
The president of the Third National
Bank says, his institution holds but
very small amount which is secured by
good endorsers. -Justbefore leaving the
city Lawtou drew from the Third
National Bank on checks $13. 600.
Abram King this afternoon: 1 have
filed attachment in the Office of the
ounty eler for the companies Of which,
am attorney gainst Lawton. The claims
will aggregate more than $4,000. The
property which / have attached
amounts to about as much. 1 don't
know where Lawton has gone to, and I
wish did.
Do you think he has gone to Canada7
don't know. We could bring him
back If he did 20. He has taken away
about 500 900, which he raised on notes
of the companies for which am acting.
The. associates of Lawton look upon
his disappearance as part of gigantic
swindling operation. The book Keeper
of the firm Is reported to have lost all
he had in the work. One man who is
q heavy loser said that Lawton had
oyerdrewn all his accounts and got all
the mohey on his paper that he could.
He sold his house, converted all his
into cash and left for England
yesterday, on his way to a brother who,
lives In Sussex. The amount involved
by his operations is placed, by everE-
body at over 81 coo. 600. His associates
look upon his disappearance rs part of
a gigantic sTindle, and believe that he
sailed on one of Wednesday s steamers.
He had brother in Sussex, England,
and it is supposed he has gone there.
After drawing out oall the bank &C
counts, he got q boy to help him to re-
move four or FIVE valises which seemed
10 be tightly filled. His credit was
high, and he was rated at over 81 ;OOO,-
700 by commercial agencies.
EsLesseps